THERE are people in the Jennings Ribblesdale League who will tell you that the current system used to get some semblance of order and fairness out of rain affected games is as good as it can be, but spectators and players alike were left to ponder the absurdity of it all during Settle's home game with Cherry Tree at Marshfield on Saturday.

Rain eventually brought an end to proceedings, as it did to all but a couple of games, but not before the contest had descended into deep farce as both sides sought to extract maximum advantage from the regulations governing rain-affected matches.

When Cherry Tree batted, their innings was interrupted by the weather, at which point special regulations came into the equation.

Basically, if Settle could bowl all their allocated overs before 6pm, they would have been entitled to a minimum of 25 overs. During that time they would have been required to finish ahead of the Cherry Tree run-rate to pick up a win.

Settle obviously fancied their chances of making the most of that situation - Cherry Tree were fearful that they would suffer if that equation were introduced.

The outcome was the batting side exercising every trick in the book to use up the time allowance - glove changes, spectators behind the bowler's arm etc, etc - and Settle just as stubborn, dropping catches and not attempting run-outs in favour of keeping the overs running down at an unseemly clip.

The outcome was that Cherry Tree closed at 143-5, with professional Naeem Ashraf leading the way with 46.

At that stage, Settle needed 80 runs from 25 overs to have picked up a run-rate win, but more nonsense was averted when rain brought an abandonment, with both sides getting two points for the efforts.

"The situation wasn't what cricket is supposed to be about, I'm sure," said Settle captain, Andy Davidson. "Deliberately trying not to get people out isn't cricket, but with the rules as they are, these situations can occur.

"What annoys me is that there is plenty of light at this time of year to be playing until 9.30pm on a decent night, yet we are getting this sort of situation because we have 8pm as the end of play."

The situation at the top of the table has not changed as a result of last weekend's activity, with none of the title aspirants managing to get a result.